With the appeal date only just set I have today received a letter from the Planning Inspector telling me that the Developer has withdrawn their appeal.

No reasons have been given. Perhaps the Developer had decided that they were likely to lose the appeal. Apparently, in planning law, losing an appeal is a very bad thing, as it can prejudice future planning applications.

Certainly, a declaration by the Inspector that either the site had a high environmental value or that it should be preserved as open space would have been fatal to any high density development.

Of course this won't be the end of the story. I suspect that the Developer will either sell the site to another Developer or submit an amended planning application.

Past experience also suggests that there can be informal discussions between a developer and the Council before any planning application is submitted.

So, if you believe that this site should be kept as green open space, please make your voice heard by phoning the Lewisham Planners (020 8314 7400) and by contacting our Local Councillors.

Residents around this site have today received letters from Stuart Cunliffe, the property development consultant acting for Loromah Estates Ltd. They're holding a Public Exhibition of their latest proposals on Wednesday 11th June at the Christian Fellowshop Centre, 39 Honor Oak Road between 4pm and 8pm. Somebody from Lewisham's planning department will be there as well.
Apparently, they've been consulting with the planning department for some months and this is what they've come up with as a result. No details as yet of what changes they've made to their original proposal for 85 flats.
They haven't submitted a planning application yet because they are so keen to hear OUR thoughts!!

Isnt the key concern about access (goodness knows how Honor Oak Rd will cope with 84+ more cars) and the wildlife issue.

Personally I have had enough of ever MORE flats being built in the Forest Hill, Honor Oak area without increasing the size and frequency of trains going into London. Doesnt anyone build family houses with nice gardens anymore????? GRrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

The article is about Loromah Estates' plans for an eco-friendly housing development on 'derelict land' behind Tyson Road - and ironically it appears on the Green Guardian page! Perhaps someone would like to point out to the Green Guardian the exact nature of the 'derelict' land?

Incredible when will these devolpers give up. You would have thought in the current climate they had learnt a painfull lesson but apparently not.
I suggest LBC refuse all applications until all current sites are completed.

I live close enough to have been circulated with their revised proposals for comments. The footer at the bottom of the page reads "Jesus is Lord" ... we should remind them about all God's creatures, though they claim despite exhaustive searches they have failed to find either stag beetles or bats.

Ah, just paint your planning application green and that should be good enough. On the same issue as Newsshopper promoting the current (green) plans (5 Nov) for TR, there is a letter "putting planning nightmares on the big screen" talking about making a documentary on the planning process in Lewisham, well not exactly the process (that would be a bit dull) but some of the more controversial decisions. Contact ann-marie@ameg.org.uk

I'll dig out my planning thread on the other side, and then see if anyone has started on youtube